The birthplace of house music has been granted landmark status by the City of Chicago. Formerly the site of The Warehouse nightclub, the 113-year-old building at 206 South Jefferson St. achieved protections after months of advocacy from preservationist groups.
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks initially approved landmark designation for the building earlier this month. On Tuesday, the City Zoning Committee approved the decision as well. The landmark designation prevents alterations to the building's facade and prohibits demolition.
According to information from Preservation Chicago, The Warehouse nightclub was established in 1977 and became known for its dance parties featuring famed Chicago DJ Frankie Knuckles.
At The Warehouse, DJ Frankie Knuckles would combine elements of electronic, soul and disco to create the house music genre. Some famous examples of Knuckles's signature sound include Technotronic's “Pump up the Jam” and CeCe Peniston's "Finally."
The club was known as a haven for black, Latino, and LGBTQ Chicagoans. In the wake of incidents like the infamous 1979 Disco Demolition at Comiskey park, The Warehouse served as a safe space for LGBTQ individuals and communities of color to unite over a love of disco.
In 1985 the club was forced to shutter its doors due to safety concerns, but the building has since remained an essential piece of Black and LGBTQ Chicago history. In December 2022, the building was sold to lawyers Shneur Nathan and Avi Kamionski, who plan to move their law firm Nathan and Kamionski LLP, into the space. (Block Club Chicago)
Preservation Chicago and The Frankie Knuckles Foundation subsequently created a petition to save the building. Preservation Chicago also named The Warehouse one of Chicago’s 7 most endangered buildings in March, expressing concerns that the site could be demolished without city intervention.
In a statement to NBC Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the decision stating, “Chicago’s landmarks illustrate the story of our history and culture, (and) I’m proud that the City Council approved landmark designation for The Warehouse, a space regarded as the birthplace of house music and a haven for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ communities.”
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